If you joined IHG® Rewards Club at a hotel,
then you will need to create a 4-digit
PIN in order to access your IHG® Rewards Club account.

Unexpected Server Error

Your session has expired. Please sign in to your profile

The information you provided does not match what we have on file for you. Please try again or call IHG® Rewards Club Customer Care at 1-888-897-0089.

Your IHG® Rewards Club account already has a PIN associated with it. If you use our automated telephone system, your PIN is the same. If you have forgotten your PIN, we can email your PIN to the email address in your IHG® Rewards Club account. Please contact your nearest IHG® Rewards Club Customer Care Center for assistance.

The PINs you entered do not match. Please re-enter one or both PINs to make sure they are exactly the same.

Istanbul Travel Guide

Istanbul Travel Guide

Istanbul, the capital of Turkey and the country's largest city, is a beautiful metropolis that offers vacationers an unforgettable experience. More than 14 million people live in Istanbul and enjoy the city's pleasant spring weather. Spring is a great time to visit because you can avoid the summer heat and crowds. However, the best deals on Istanbul hotels are available in winter, so that is the time to go if you don't mind snow.

Istanbul is a city full of fascinating dichotomies. You'll see that both Eastern and Western cultures have a strong influence on its atmosphere and customs. The city's rich past also contributes to the variety of things to see and do; Istanbul served as the capital of four major empires, including the Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires.

In Istanbul, you will see Muslims, Christians, Jews, and devotees of other religions. Despite the diverse religious practices and cultural traditions of the city's inhabitants, many of them share a warm spirit that eagerly welcomes visitors.

How can you make the most out of your visit to this unique city? Use this guide to help you start planning your trip.

Things to See

A trip to Hagia Sophia is essential for any visitor to Istanbul. This architectural marvel started out as a cathedral, served as a mosque for a time, and is now a museum. Go there to admire the towering spires, impressive dome, and intricate architectural details that make this one of the most beautiful structures in the world.

The Blue Mosque is another gorgeous building, known for the blue tiles that adorn its interior. Because it still serves as an active mosque, it is closed to non-Muslims during daily prayers, so you may have to wait a while before entering.

If you're a history buff, make sure you put a stop at the Istanbul Archaeology Museums on your itinerary. These three buildings house exquisite artifacts from the Ottoman Empire as well as other places and periods throughout history.

You might appreciate seeing the Basilica Cistern, an underground marvel and the largest cistern in Istanbul. More than 300 columns support it. It's a great place to go in the summer if you want to escape the heat and get a glimpse of a unique structure.

Like to shop? Istanbul's Grand Bazaar takes place daily, and you could easily spend an entire vacation exploring everything it has to offer. It covers 50 streets, and there are more than 5,000 shops on offer. Hundreds of thousands of people visit every day. The domed hall at the center of the bazaar is where you will find the most valuable items.

For a new perspective on the city, climb the Galata Tower, which offers 360-degrees views that will leave you breathless and reaching for your camera.

Hotels in Istanbul

The variety of hotels in Istanbul offers accommodations for those who want to indulge. For a luxurious treat, stay at the InterContinental Istanbul, which boasts great views and a central location. Enjoy a delicious meal at one of the property's four restaurants, unwind with a delightful spa treatment, and ask the concierge for recommendations so you can enjoy every moment of your time in this gorgeous city.

Hotels in Turkey also include lodging options that make a good match for frugal travelers. Holiday Inn Istanbul offers a great value. From there, it is easy to hop on a train to get to the city's best attractions. If you're renting a car, you can leave it at the hotel and take advantage of the complimentary parking.

The Holiday Inn Istanbul Airport is a great option if your flight arrives late at night and you want a convenient place to spend your first night in the city. It is close to a couple of malls, too, so you can get started on your vacation shopping right away.

Where to Stay

The Golden Horn, a large estuary, serves as an informal boundary line in Istanbul. If you stay south of it, you'll be in the historic part of the city. There are plenty of budget hotels there, as well as attractions such as Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. The area north of the Golden Horn is a little more modern. Taksim, a popular neighborhood for tourists, is north of the Golden Horn.

You may find cheaper accommodations at Turkey hotels on the fringes of Istanbul or just outside its borders.

How to Get to Istanbul

When you're traveling to Istanbul, you'll probably fly to Istanbul Ataturk Airport. You can rent a car at the airport. However, if you would prefer to take public transportation, you may take a bus or a sea bus. Taxis are also easy to catch.

Istanbul is a fascinating city that combines the beauty of different cultures and religions. The time you spend here will provide you with treasured memories for years to come.

Crowne Plaza Istanbul - Oryapark

Crowne Plaza Istanbul - Asia

Holiday Inn Express Istanbul - Altunizade

Good staff and great place to rest after busy day of meetings. Located close to roads to easy to travel. Dinner and breakfast nice and friendly staff.[Less]

Great people and great service

By Catalin03

Very good service, fresh food, hospitality and great room service![Less]

Excellent club lounge

By The experienced traveller

This extra facility is fantastic and great to be rewarded as a loyal member of the IHG group.[Less]

Room atmosphere

By Paleerat

Too dark. Need more lights. And all the lights should be easily accessed from the bed.[Less]

As you expect

By Gren61

Good facilities, comfortable rooms and welcoming staff[Less]

Great service, excelllence staff, thank you for cp family

By Karacar

Great service, excelllence staff, thank you for cp family[Less]

Holiday Inn Express experience

By Eyad

Even though it was an express hotel, but with nice staff like those you feel it is so special.[Less]

Nice Location Easy Access and Good room

By Muhannad

The Room is Nice and the Location is excellent in Anatolian Asian Side
yet you can go to European side very easy and fast by public Transport and Around a lot of Nice Restaurant.
the Hotel is[More] Super Clean and the Room is Nice for Single.
the Restaurant and Coffee shop around is very good.
I Strongly recommended it[Less]

Great for its price - difficult to travel around

By Samiii

I loved the experience in the hotel - they had good fulfilling breakfast and a variety to choose from - however the stations and stops of buses are about 15 minutes walk so not an ideal place if you[More] want to roam around - plus its a bit far from city centers as well. The rooms were clean and cozy- had no issues. Checked in late at night so the person on the counter knew very little english[Less]

Cookie Usage and Settings

The standard cookie policy for this website is to allow all cookies. This helps to ensure you have the optimal experience. If you would like to continue with our optimal website experience, you don't need to make any changes. If you would like to learn more about how we use cookies or change your settings, you can use the link at the bottom of any page at any time.

Calls to 0871 numbers, when dialed from the UK, cost 13p per minute. Standard network rates apply. Calls from mobiles will be higher.